KSS Enterprises history

By 1961, the company was purchased by Dwight Stocker.

In 1974, Ralph Claxton, a sales representative who had been with the company for nine years, purchased the company and focused on building a solid customer base by promoting products, service and education for the next 13 years and was supported by an inside staff of 3.

In 1987, the Hill Family purchases Kalamazoo Sanitary Supply with Tom Hill Jr as President, Tom Hill Sr. as Vice President, and Terry (Hill) Dawson as General Manager.

In 1988, the business grew to ten employees and moved to a larger location to fit the needs of the growth with an expanded showroom, parking, office and warehouse space.

By 1994, Kalamazoo Sanitary Supply changed its name to KSS Enterprises to better represent the business as much more than a supply company.

Also in 1995, KSS celebrated it’s 50th anniversary with a growing staff and additional improvements like inventory management, just in time delivery, and expanded factory-authorized service and repair department.

The first branch location opened in Jackson, Michigan in 1997, when KSS purchased a janitorial distributor, Chuck’s supply.

In 1999, the Kalamazoo warehouse was expanded by 7,500 feet to modernize with new loading docks and mezzanine area.

The second branch location was added in 2000 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, along with a second location for our service department.

KSS purchased Musio Janitorial in Petoskey, Michigan in 2005, opening it’s fifth location which allowed for a broader service area and product lines.

KSS acquired the Ware Wash Division of Stafford-Smith in 2006, which increased our customer base and product line.

The Grand Rapids branch moved to a new state-of-the-art facility in 2011 which provided an expanded showroom, service and repair departments, and large training facility.

In 2013, KSS expanded into the Detroit market physically with a branch in Plymouth, Michigan.

In 2015, KSS celebrated the 70th anniversary of serving the Great Lakes Region as a premier distributor of facility supplies and equipment.